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Winemaker's Notes:

The weather conditions during the harvest made very careful selection of the best grapes necessary, especially in the case of the Sangiovese. As in previous years, great care was taken during the fermentation and extraction phases, carrying out more frequent but less intense délestage and pumping over to obtain the best results for colour and tannins. For all three varieties, fermentation took placed at an average temperature of 27°, and an absolute maximum of 31°, to preserve as greatly as possible the aromas and typical features of the fruit. From the beginning the must showed great complexity and above all (in the case of the Sangiovese) very typical varietal aromas and elegance. After devatting, at the end of alcoholic fermentation, the wines were placed in new oak barriques where malolactic fermentation took place by the end of the year. They were then blended and aged for 12 months in barriques, racked and then tasted barrique by barrique before bottling. After another year ageing in the bottles the wine was released for sale. Alcohol : 13,5% Vol.
Tignanello is made exclusively from the vineyard of the same name which is situated on limestone and tufaceous soil on the Tignanello estate covering 47 south-west-facing hectares at altitudes between 350 and 400 metres a.s.l.. This was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first modern red wine blended with non-traditional varieties like Cabernet, and on e of the first red wines in Chianti not to use white grapes. Tignanello, originally "Chianti Classico Riserva vigneto Tignanello" was first made from a single vineyard in the 1970 vintage, when it contained 20% Canaiolo and 5% Trebbiano and Malvasia and was aged in small oak barrels. With the 1971 vintage it became a Tuscan table wine and was named Tignanello. In 1975 the percentage of white grapes was definitively removed. Since 1982 the composition has remained the same. Tignanello is only made in the best vintage years, and therefore was not made in 1972, 1973,1974, 1976, 1984, 1992 and 2002.
Very intense ruby red colour. Nicely expressed varietal aromas with hints of black berry fruit. The palate is weighty, dense and vibrant with complex structure thanks to support of the acidity. Long and lingering with hints of chocolate, coffee and marmalade in the aftertaste. The beautifully handled tannin from the wine and wood blend making Tignanello a very complex, stylish and sophisticated wine.

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The Antinori family has been making wine for over six hundred years, since Giovanni di Piero Antinori became part of the Arte Fiorentina dei Vinattieri in 1385. Throughout its long history, spanning 26 generations, the family has always personally managed the business making innovative, sometimes courageous choices, always with unwavering respect for tradition and the land. Today Marchese Pi... Read more

The Antinori family has been making wine for over six hundred years, since Giovanni di Piero Antinori became part of the Arte Fiorentina dei Vinattieri in 1385. Throughout its long history, spanning 26 generations, the family has always personally managed the business making innovative, sometimes courageous choices, always with unwavering respect for tradition and the land. Today Marchese Piero Antinori is director of the company, assisted by his three daughters, Albiera, Allegra and Alessia, who are personally involved in the business. The qualities of tradition, passion and instinct have made Antinori one of the leading Italian producers of fine quality wines. Every vintage, every terroir, every idea is a new beginning, a new quest to raise our quality margins. As Marchese Piero loves to repeat: “ancient roots play an important role in our philosophy, but they have never held back our spirit of innovation”. As well as the family's traditional heritage of estates in Tuscany and Umbria, investments have been made over time in other areas highly suited to quality wine production, in Italy and abroad, in a quest to promote new terroirs, rich in winegrowing potential. Antinori continually experiment with their vineyards and cellars, with selections of native and international clones, growing methods, vineyard altitudes, fermentation methods and temperatures, traditional and modern vinification techniques, types of wood, size and age of barrels, and various bottle-ageing periods. Piero Antinori says: “We have shown over the years that it is possible to produce internationally-acclaimed fine stylish, elegant wines in Tuscany and Umbria while maintaining their original character”. Looking to the future, Antinori explains: “There are many books in our library but they are never enough for us. Our mission is not yet complete: we are driven to express the vast potential of our vineyards and reconcile all that is new and undiscovered with Tuscany's traditional, cultural, agricultural, artistic and literary heritage. These things represent the identity of Antinori, and one of our greatest strengths is that we are in Tuscany – our essential ‘Tuscan-ness', if you will”. Read less

External Reviews for Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Riserva

Source: Epic Cellars

02/06/2011

Pale garnet-brick. Intense gamey / savoury aromas with an undercurrent of dark cherry jam, fresh cracked black pepper and a pleasant hint of mushroom. The palate reveals lots of life left in this wine giving a crisp backbone of acid and a medium+ level of finely grained tannins. Good concentration of dried fruit flavours, a pleasant savoury meatiness and some spice. Very long finish. Drink now 2012+. Tasted November 2008.

Very intense ruby red colour. Nicely expressed varietal aromas with hints of black berry fruit. The palate is weighty, dense and vibrant with complex structure thanks to support of the acidity. Long and lingering with hints of chocolate, coffee and

The weather conditions during the harvest made very careful selection of the best grapes necessary, especially in the case of the Sangiovese. As in previous years, great care was taken during the fermentation and extraction phases, carrying out more frequent but less intense délestage and pumping over to obtain the best results for colour and tannins. For all three varieties, fermentation took placed at an average temperature of 27°, and an absolute maximum of 31°, to preserve as greatly as possible the aromas and typical features of the fruit. From the beginning the must showed great complexity and above all (in the case of the Sangiovese) very typical varietal aromas and elegance. After devatting, at the end of alcoholic fermentation, the wines were placed in new oak barriques where malolactic fermentation took place by the end of the year. They were then blended and aged for 12 months in barriques, racked and then tasted barrique by barrique before bottling. After another year ageing in the bottles the wine was released for sale. Alcohol : 13,5% Vol.
Tignanello is made exclusively from the vineyard of the same name which is situated on limestone and tufaceous soil on the Tignanello estate covering 47 south-west-facing hectares at altitudes between 350 and 400 metres a.s.l.. This was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first modern red wine blended with non-traditional varieties like Cabernet, and on e of the first red wines in Chianti not to use white grapes. Tignanello, originally "Chianti Classico Riserva vigneto Tignanello" was first made from a single vineyard in the 1970 vintage, when it contained 20% Canaiolo and 5% Trebbiano and Malvasia and was aged in small oak barrels. With the 1971 vintage it became a Tuscan table wine and was named Tignanello. In 1975 the percentage of white grapes was definitively removed. Since 1982 the composition has remained the same. Tignanello is only made in the best vintage years, and therefore was not made in 1972, 1973,1974, 1976, 1984, 1992 and 2002.
Very intense ruby red colour. Nicely expressed varietal aromas with hints of black berry fruit. The palate is weighty, dense and vibrant with complex structure thanks to support of the acidity. Long and lingering with hints of chocolate, coffee and marmalade in the aftertaste. The beautifully handled tannin from the wine and wood blend making Tignanello a very complex, stylish and sophisticated wine.